Termination of electric cables

Abstract

An electric line (i.e. a cable or a conduit containing at least one insulated conductor) is terminated by a terminator including first and second members that telescope together. These members have recesses in their adjacent faces and a hardenable insulating compound is inserted between them. They are drawn together before the compound hardens to generate pressure therein and so assist in forming an adequate (e.g. flameproof) barrier.

What I claim as my invention is: 
     
       1. A method of forming a termination at the end of an electric line comprising at least one insulated conductor and a protective layer surrounding said insulated conductor where said line enters an enclosure through an aperture therein distinguished by the following sequence of steps: 1. Preparing said end of the line with said conductor projecting forwardly from an end of said protective layer;   2. Securing said end of the line in a first annular terminator member having a recess in its forwardly-directed face around a passage therethrough, said line extending through said passage and said end of the protective layer being within said recess;   3. Applying a quantity of a hardenable compound, in a pasty or viscous condition, to fill and stand proud of said recess and to adhere to said line within said recess;   4. Assembling a second annular terminator member, having a recess in its rearwardly-directed face, with said first terminator member to enclose said compound to an extent sufficient to allow generation of pressure in said compound;   5. Drawing said first terminator member and said second terminator member together by means of a pair of further annular terminator members before said compound has hardened to press said compound into firm contact with said line, and   6. Securing a said further annular terminator member by mechanically engaging same in said aperture in the enclosure.   
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said line is a cable having armour wires outside said protective layer comprising securing its said end by securing said armour wires to said first annular terminator member. 
     
     
       3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said recess in the first annular terminator member has a frustoconical base. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second annular terminator member comprises two parallel portions joined by a frustoconical tapered portion. 
     
     
       5. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said recess in the first annular terminator member has a frustoconical base and said second annular terminator member comprises two parallel portions joined by a frustoconical tapered portion. 
     
     
       6. A method in accordance with claim 1 in which said line is secured to said first annular terminator member by means of a terminator that is not flameproof. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second annular terminator member projects forwardly beyond every terminator member apart from itself and said compound completely fills said second annular terminator member and protrudes from the front end thereof, so that said second annular terminator member and said compound are both visible at the front of the termination. 
     
     
       8. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising forming a fluid-tight seal between said second annular terminator member and a said further annular terminator member surrounding it. 
     
     
       9. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising forming a continous flame gap between said second annular terminator member and a said further annular terminator member surrounding it. 
     
     
       10. A terminator for an electric line comprising a first annular terminator member with a passage for said line; securing means for securing said line to said first annular terminator member; a second annular terminator member telescopically engageable at its rear end with the front end of said first annular terminator member, and means including a pair of further annular terminator members for drawing said first and second annular terminator members towards one another, said first annular terminator member having a recess in its front face surrounding said passage and said second annular terminator member having a recess in its rear face to form with said recess in said first annular terminator member a compound chamber. 
     
     
       11. A terminator in accordance with claim 10, for a cable with armour wires, wherein said securing means comprises an armour wire grip. 
     
     
       12. A terminator in accordance with claim 10 in which said recess in said first annular terminator member has a frustoconical base. 
     
     
       13. A terminator in accordance with claim 10 wherein said second annular terminator member comprises two parallel portions joined by a frustoconical tapered portion. 
     
     
       14. A terminator in accordance with claim 10 wherein said recess in said first annular terminator member has a frustoconical base and said second annular terminator member comprises two parallel portions joined by a frustoconical tapered portion. 
     
     
       15. A flameproof terminator in accordance with claim 22 wherein said securing means consists of a terminator that is not flameproof. 
     
     
       16. A terminator in accordance with claim 10 wherein said second annular terminator member projects forwardly beyond every terminator member apart from itself. 
     
     
       17. A terminator in accordance with claim 10 comprising a fluid-tight seal between said second annular terminator member and a said further annular terminator member surrounding it. 
     
     
       18. A terminator in accordance with claim 10 comprising a continuous flame-gap between said second annular terminator member and a said further annular terminator member surrounding it.